• Login
    View Item 
    •   CDR Home
    • Mission and Ministry
    • Daily Reflections Archive
    • View Item
    •   CDR Home
    • Mission and Ministry
    • Daily Reflections Archive
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Reflection for Friday March 15, 2019: 1st Week of Lent.

    View/Open
    031519.html (6.869Kb)
    Author
    Whitney, Tamora
    Date
    2019-03-15
    Office/Affiliation
    English

    Reading 1
    Ezekiel 18:21-28

    Psalm
    Psalms 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8

    Gospel
    Matthew 5:20-26

    Lectionary Number
    228. Year I, Lent.

    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Browse: Previous Reflection * Next Reflection

    Reflection:

    To see the original html page, click the file link on the left.

    Today we read about second chances. We are not held to our past or our past decisions forever. We can change. If we've made a mistake, we can make it right and move forward in a positive direction. In fact, if we have made a mistake, if we are heading in the wrong direction, we should fix it. I recently edited a wonderful book that deals with relationships, Cupid on Trial by Brian Jory. All the characters in the book are struggling with relationships and how to connect. Like all of us, they make mistakes, and hope they are not defined by that or tied to it. One character says he "made a mistake, but that doesn't mean he is a mistake." And we see that same idea in today's readings.

    In our first reading from Ezekiel, God says that the wicked should turn away from sin and do what is right and just. Just because one has previously made a mistake does not make that person a mistake. There are second chances in life. God will acknowledge our conversion and react accordingly. But the opposite is true too. We cannot sit on our laurels. A virtuous person who turns from righteousness and acts in an evil manner will be held responsible for those actions as well. We have the choice to do good or to do evil. But if we make a mistake or we start off on the wrong track, we can change our path, and change our lives.

    But there's a responsibility that goes along with that. We are held responsible for our choices. We should use our powers for good instead of evil. And we cannot make justifications. We need to own up to our mistakes and make the appropriate changes. In the gospel Jesus says that we cannot act only to the letter of the law, but instead must go to the intent. We can't say, well, I never actually killed anyone so I haven't done anything bad. But what if we wished the person dead? What if we held animosity for that person? We need to examine our actions and our motives. Where have we made mistakes, and what can we do better. We are not mistakes, and we can change our lives for the better.
    Link
    Go to the Daily Reflection web site

    Persistant link to this record
    http://hdl.handle.net/10504/121647
    Context
    View the Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer (Archived Version)

    Browse
    Previous Reflection * Next Reflection

    Collections
    • Daily Reflections Archive

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2015  DuraSpace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    @mire NV
     

     

    Browse

    All of the CDRCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2015  DuraSpace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    @mire NV